Automatic perforating machine



June 22, 1937. KEEFE 2,084,347

AUTOMATIC PERFORATING MACHINE Filed Nov. 5, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR LINCOLN M KEEFE AM f ATTORNEY 5,

June 22, 1937. M, KEEFE AUTOMATIC PERFORATING MACHINE Filed Nov. 5, 1954 5 Sheets-SheetZ Z 7 1 5 R mm mN JR NM 0 E T VM a? MUM Y B June 22, 1937. L. M. KEEFE.

AUTOMATIC PERFORATING MACHINE Filed Nov. 5, 1954 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR LINCOLN/.1. KEEFE ATTORNEY! June 22, 1937.

L. M. KEEFE AUTOMATIC PERFORATING MACHINE Filed Nov. 5, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig.5

INVENTOR M Krzrz V M r in LINCOLN ATTORN EYS.

June 22, M KEEFE 2,084,347

AUTOMATIC PERFORATING MACHINE Filed Nov. 5, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR LING OLN M. KEEFE BYVMM h iulr ATTORNEYS,

Patented June 22, 1937 osirsosrarss assist? rarest 20 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in automatic perforating machines and has for a principal object the reproduction of punched record cards in their original form or in any other desired form or arrangement.

A further object of the invention is the provision in a punching machine of a sensing means adapted to read or analyze the records to be reproduced in horizontal rows across the records step by step.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a punching machine having a sensing means and a row of punches, the brushes of the sensing means and the row of punches being in alinement in the machine and adapted to operate substantially simultaneously.

Still another object of the invention is the provision in a punching machine of a single actuating member and a plurality of punches associated therewith, having electrically actuated interposers designed to be moved into operative positions between the actuating member and the one or more of the punches, and the termination of the magnets controlling said interposers in a plug board so that said magnets may be selectively connected to means sensing the card to be reproduced in any desired order or arrangement.

Another object of the invention is the provision in an automatic reproducing punch of a card feeding mechanism adapted to feed to the machine simultaneously in steps a perforated record and a blank record.

A still further object of the invention is the provision in an automatic duplicating punching machine of a single movable member carrying pickers adapted to feed into the machine at the time both a card to be reproduced and a blank card to be perforated. I

Other objects will be apparent to those skilled n in the art upon a perusal of these specifications and the appended claims.

Duplicating punches of the prior art such as that described in Patent No. 1,772,186 to Fred L. Lee et a1. or Patent No. 1,921,408 to Wm. F.

45 Gutgesell, were designed mainly to reproduce a portion of a record card automatically after which additional data. may be punched into the card by means of hand-operated keys.

In the machines of the prior art, the record to to be duplicated is sensed vertical column by vertical column therefore making it necessary, if the whole card were to be duplicated, to take 45 steps if a 45 column record were being duplicated or 86 steps if an 89 column record were being 55 duplicated.

the sensing means senses all of the vertical '5 columns of the record to be reproduced in horizontalrows, index position by index position, much in the same manner as records are sensed in a tabulating machine with the exception that there is a dwell at each index position. There 10 are 12 dwells for either a 45 or an 80 column record thereby making it possible to reproduce records in from one fourth to one seventh the time required to duplicate entire records by the machines of the prior art. 15

In existing machines of a similar character the magnets actuate the punches thereby drawing heavy current. In the new and improved device the punches are mechanically driven and are controlled by small electro-magnets. These 20 magnetsterminate in sockets in a plug board and the brushes of-the sensing means also terminate in sockets in the plug board so that the sensing means and the control'magnets for the brushes may be interconnected in'any desired arrange- 5 ment making it possible to omit any portions of the records not desired to be duplicated in the new records, and to also arrange the perforations in the new records in any conceivable arrangement regardless of how they appfiar in 30 the original. This makes it possible to reproduce data from a 45 column record to an 80 column reco-rdor vice versa; or to reproduce a 90 column record into a 45 or 80 column record or vice versa.

In the preferred embodiment shown and illustrated herein, the reproduction of an 80 column record from an 80 column record is described but it is obvious that by merely rearranging the elements disclosed it is possible to reproduce any 40 type of record from a similar or other type of record and in any conceivable arrangement.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective elevation showing the arrangement of the various elements in the new and improved perforating machine;

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation showing details of the record feed, details of the punches and the mechanical actuator.

Figure 3 is an elevation, partly in section, showing details of the feeding mechanism and mechanism for insuring the correct registration of' the index positions on the record with the punches. V, V

Figure 4 is an elevation, partly in section, 5

' showing the record feed mechanism feeding a new record to the punches after having ejected the previously completed record.

Figure 5 is an elevation, partly in section, show-. ing one of the punch control members in its control position and showing the punch at the extreme limit of its stroke. 7 7

Figure 6 is a plan view of a portion of the mechanism showing the arrangement of one of the punch driving cams and the punch actuating member.

Figure 7 is a circuit diagram showing schematically the controls of the new and improved device.

For the sake of clarity portions of the supporting frame bearing for the various shafts and portions of the plug board have been omitted so that a clear understanding of the elements of the machine and their relation to each other may be had.

The record to be reproduced, which may be termed the control record, is designated by the ill numeral I9 and the blank record, which is to be punched in the machine is designated by the numeral I I. These records are moved from the bottom of their respective stacks, l2 and 13, by means of pickers l4, I5, l6 and I1 carried by a single shaft 18. 7 i g The picker shaft l8 has secured thereto and is adapted to be driven thereby, a dog I9. A shaft 29 has one end operatively connected to dog 19 by means of a clevis pin 2|. The other end of the shaft 26 is operatively connected to a lever 22 by means of a pin 23 passing through a yoke 25. The lever 22 is supported on a pivot pin 24 which may be suitably supported on the frame of the' -machine, notshown.

A yoke 26 formed in the lever 22 has passing therethrough a pin 28 which forms a support for a roller 21, and a cam 29 secured to the main shaft 39 is operatively engaged by the roller 21.

When the shaft 39 rotates the high portion 29a of the cam 29 acting against the roller 21 causes the lever 22 to move in a counterclockwise direction as found in Figure l and through the medium of the shaft 20 the dog 19 is pulledandthereby the shaft I8 is caused to rotate through a small arc in a clockwise direction. When this occurs the pickers l4 and I5 engage the control record 10 and the pickers l6 and I1 engage the blank record H and thereby both of the records are advanced to the feed rollers of the machine which will presently be described.

By the time the high portion 29a of the cam 29 has passed the roller 21. the lever 22 starts moving in a clockwise direction on its pivot 24 and through the medium of the shaft 20 the dog 19 moves in a counterclockwise direction thereby returning the pickers to their normal position.

To insure that the roller 21 is always in contact with the cam 29, the dog I9 is provided with an arm 3! having a slotted portion 34 through which a pin 33 is passed. A spring 32 has one end thereof secured to the pin 33 and the other end of it may be secured to a portion of the frame, not

' shown.

The machine is provided with feed roll shafts 35, 36 and 4|, 42. These shafts are supported on suitable bearings in the frame, not shown. The shaft 35 carries a. plurality of feed rollers, one of which is designated by the numeral 31, and the shaft 36 carries a plurality of feed rollers, one of which is designated by the numeral 38. Each feed roller 31 is positioned substantially in line with a feed roller 38 so that together they engage a record and propel the same through the ma- 2,os4,s47 v chine- This necessitates that the shaft 35 and,

shaft 36 rotate in opposite directions.

Accordingly, the shaft 35 has secured thereto a pinion 39 and the shaft 36 carries a pinion 40 which meshes with the pinion 39. These pinions are driven by a gear 41. It has been found preferable for constructional reasons to have the A 7 gear 41 drive the pinion 40.

The shaft 4| has secured thereto a plurality of feed rollers, one of which is designated by the numeral 43, and the shaft 42 carries a plurality of feed rollers, one of which is designated by the numeral 44. The feed rollers-43 and 44 are grouped in cooperative pairs in the same manner as the feed rollers 31 and 38 previously described. The shaft M has secured thereto a pinion 45 which meshes with a pinion 46 carried by the 1 shaft 42, and the gear 41 also drives the pinion 46.

The sensing means and the punches, which will presently be described, are arranged'in endwise The pawl of its lower end and has the opposite, or upper 4 end in the form of a ball 60. The rack 59 en.- gages the teeth 53 of the sector gear 52 and is held into engagement therewith by means of a grooved roller 6| supported on ashaft 62 a fixed distance from the shaft 49.

A lever 64 has one end thereof pivoted on a pin 1 '65 supported in a yoked portion 66 of the frame. The otherend of the lever 64 is slotted and is provided with a pin 61 substantially parallel to the pin forming a bearing for a roller 68 and positioning the same in operative relation to the cam'48. et 69 which is engaged by a ball 60. The ball 60 is held into engagement with the socket 69 by means of a spring 63, onev end of which is secured to the bar 58 and the other end of which is secured to a portion 10 of the frame by means of an escutcheon pin 11. 7

When the shaft 30 is rotated the cam 48 acting against the roller 68 drives the bar 58 downward and the rack 59 moves the sector gear 52 in the direction of the arrow (Figures 3 and 4). Due to the fact that the pawl is in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet 51 the movement of the sector gear 52 in.the direction of the arrow causes the ratchet to also move in the direction of the arrow together with the shaft 49, the star wheel 50 and the gear 41. This causes the feed roll. shafts 3 5, 36 and 4 l, 42 to rotate through the medium of ative thereto that its stars or teeth are in definite timed relation to the index rows of the rec'- ords.

A roller 12 engages the teeth of the star wheel The lever 64 is also provided with a sock- 50 and is provided to insure accurate registration of the index rows of the records with the punches and with the sensing means. This roller is carried by a yoked lever 14, a pin 13 being provided as a bearing for the roller 12. The lever 14 is supported in a pivot shaft 15 secured to the frame in any suitable manner and an arm 16 extending from thelever 14 has secured thereto a spring 11, one end of which may be secured to the frame. This spring causes the tro-magnets.

I by electrical means.

roller to firmly but resiliently engage the teeth of the star wheel 59.

The cam 48 is provided with a plurality of small lobes one of which is designated by the numeral 18a, and a large lobe-"43b which feeds one set of records out of the machine and a second set of records into the machine. This lobe is of such length that the records being fed into the machine come to rest with the first index rows thereon in position in the sensing means, and beneath the punches respectively.

' Suitable receptacles or pockets are provided to receive and stack the records ejected from the machine. These pockets are designated by the numeral 18. As the records are ejected by the rollers they encounter a suitable deflector 79 which is provided to direct the records into the pockets it. The deflector may be suitably pivoted on a fixed shaft 80 suitably supported on the frame.

The hoppers containing cards to be fed into the machine may be of any suitable form and in the embodiment shown a portion of a card hopper is designated generally by the numeral 8!. This hopper is arranged so that it is possible only to feed one record at a time.

Having described the steps in feeding the records into and through the machine, a description of the punches will be given, followed by a description of the sensing means and the method of associating elements of the sensing means with the control elements of the punches.

It has been the usual practice to propel the punches through the records by means of elec- Such arrangements are shown and described in the Lee et al. and the Gutgesell patents above referred to. This arrangement has distinct disadvantages in that heavy currents are required to exert sufiicient power upon the punches to effect the perforations of the records.

In the new and improved perforating machine the punches are driven or propelled through the material to be punched by mechanical means and control of the mechanical means is effected The moving parts associated with the electrical means are very light in construction and so no work is done by the magnets other than shifting these moving parts into alinement with heads of the punches. Due to the small current used the sensing means does not have to handle heavy currents.

Referring to Figure 2, a suitable cross member 82 of the frame is provided with a die block 82. The die block 83 is provided with a plurality of dies, one of which is designated by the numeral 84. In the present embodiment this die block 83 is provided with eighty rectangular dies. In cases where it is desirable to reproduce forty-five or ninety column records the dies would be round and forty-five dies would be provided instead of eighty.

A secondcross member 85 is spaced apart from the cross member 82 a sufficient distance with clearance for a record card to pass therethrough. A stripper block 86 is set in the cross member 85 flush with the lower surface of .the latter. The stripper block is provided with a plurality of rectangular holes which serve as guides for the punches Bl. The cross member 85 is provided with a slot 88 which is of substantially the width of the punches plus clearance. The punches are all provided with notches 89, and a longitudinal plate 90 engages all of the slots 38 thereby preventing the punches from falling out-of the stripper block when the cross member 85 is removed from the machine and turned upside down. The punches are provided with T- shaped heads 9! which are utilized both to propel the punches into the dies and to positively Withdraw them from the dies after a punching operation as will presently be described.

A single mechanical member is adapted to actuate all of the dies, either singly or in combination, in accordance with electrically actuated controls which will later be described.

The punch actuating member designated generally by the numeral 92 is comprised of a reciprocable body member 93 supported on and adapted to reciprocate on slides (not shown).

The body member 93 has secured thereto an L strip 94 and a second L strip 95. These strips are secured to the body member 53 by any suitable means such as, for example, screws 96.

The angle portions of these Ls respectively engage opposite sides of the punches 8'! below the T-shaped heads 9! thereof.

It will be noted, referring tothe drawings, that there is a substantial space between the T- shaped heads 9! of the punches and the lower edge of the body member 93. This space is provided for interposers associated with the electrical controls above referred to and to be presently described. It is obvious that when the punch actuating member 92 is actuated the punch cannot be driven unless something occupies the space between the T-shaped head 9| and the bottom of the body member 93.

The shaft 35 also carries cams 95 and 9? which are provided respectively with lobes 98 and 99 corresponding to the horizontal rows of index positions in the records.

The body member 93 is provided with a plurality of stud shafts one of which is designated by the numeral lllfi, which support rollers l! and ma. bearings, for example, ball bearings. it! is adapted to be actuated by lobes 98 on the cam 9t and the roller W2 is adapted to be actuated by lobes 99 on the cam 97. When the shaft 36 is rotated, the cams which are fixed on the shaft rotate therewith and considering the rota tion in the direction indicated by the arrow, when the first lobe 98 of the cam 86 engages the roller Mil, the first lobe 99 on the cam 97 engages the roller 32, thereby propelling the body member 93 downward a distanceequal to the heighth of the lobes 93. and 99.

The L strip 95 is provided with a plurality of openings m3 communicating with the internal space formed by the L strips 94 and 95. The openings I93 serve as guides for the interposers Hit.

The interposers H34 are each provided with a rounded head 35 and a rounded tail MB. The frame ll) is provided with a plurality of slot openings IE7 which are preferably in line with the openings 33 in the L strip 95. Each of slotted openings 89! is provided with a block N38. The tail of each of the interposers is pivotally mounted in a block I 08 and the blocks are adapted to reciprocate in the slotted openings )1. Each of the blocks I08 has secured thereto in an opposite end from that of the interposer tail, a rod 19. a block 28 and an interposer HM is provided for each punch. Each rod M9 is operatively connected to an armature H8 and a spring Hi connected thereto tends to hold the assembly in its extreme position to the right, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, with theinterposer I04 out of en- These rollers are provided with suitable" The roller A single assembly comprising a rod l 89,

'an electro-magnet H3.

gagement with its associated punch. As the body member reciprocates, the interposers swing slightly about their pivots formed with the blocks I93 and the outer ends I95 move freely in the openings W3. V

The opposite end of the spring I II may be secured to a fixed portion of the machine, for example, to a pin I l2 supported by a portion of the e frame 18.

member for each punch. As theelectro-magnets do not actually drive the punches, very small currents may be utilized to actuate the magnets, and accordingly the sparking at the sensing means which will presently be described, is cut down to a minimum. When an electro-magnet is actuated, the interposer I64 is moved into position between the body member 93 and the T head 9i of a punch 81, after which a lobe 98 of the cam 96 acting against the roller I0! and the action of a similar cam and roller previously described, cause the body member 93 to move downward and the punch 81 to perforate the record II.

The magnets H3 terminate in a series of jacks or sockets H4 in a plug board II5 so that they may readily be interconnected with other jacks or sockets in the plug board which will presently be described.

The cross members 82 and 85 containing the die block and the stripper block respectively are in line with the hopper or stack of blank records It and when a blank record I I is fed by the pick- .ers I6 and I1, the feed rollers 31, 38, feed the record past the punches in accordance with the arrangement of the lobes 48a on the cam 48. The control records I0 are fed past a sensing means in steps synchronously with the movement of the blank record past the punches and dies. In the preferred form, the sensing means includes a bar I I6 of insulation supported on the frame in any suitable manner and containing a plurality of metallic brushes I I1. These brushes are insulated from each other and each brush is connected by means of a wire, one of which is shown at H9, to a jack or socket H9 in the plug board II5. The brushes II1 make contact with a contact roller I02 through holes in the control record. A contact shoe I2I bears against the roller I 29 and a wire I22 connects the contact shoe I2I to a contact arm I94 which will presently be described. A pinion I24 is secured to the shaft 35, and a shaft I25 supports the rcller I29 and has secured thereto a pinion I26 which meshes with the pinion I24 so thatwhenever the shaft 35 moves, the roller I29 is rotated thereby, always presenting a clean surface to the brushes I I1.

In the embodiment shown, the control record has eighty columns; therefore, the machine would be provided with eighty sensing brushes I I1, one

arrangement, it is possible to reproduce a record,

either wholly or in part, with the columns in the same order asthe control record or in any other desired order or arrangement.

A fuse clip I28 is connected by a wire I29 to a stationary contact block I30. A suitable contact I3I is carried by the block I30 and a movable contact I32 is carried by an arm I33. The arm I33 carries an insulated bumper I34 which is engaged by a cam I35 secured to the shaft 30. The arm I33 is preferably made of springy material and may be insulatedly supported on the frame in any suitable manner. The lobes 'I35a of the cam I35 engage the insulating bumper I34 and move the contact I32 into engagement with the contact I3I thereby connecting the return circuit of all of the magnets II3 to the fuse clip I28. The return circuit of each of the magnets i 53 may be provided with a suitable resistor I36, and the contacts I3I. and I32 may be bridged with a condenser I31 and a series resistor I38.

A suitable connector cord. I39 is provided for 7 driven by a motor I44. One side of the motor i I44 is connected by a wire I45 to a series of control elements which will presently be described,

and a wire I45a connects the fuse clip I23 of the fuse I49 to said controls. A suitable switch I41 is provided in the wire I45 for controlling the current supplied to the device.

In connection with thefigures above described, various control elements for keeping the machine running and feeding cards, for stopping the machine due to the absence of either control records or blank cards, at the sensing means and/or the punches etc., have been omitted for the sake of clarity. These elements and their corelation to the various parts of the device are shown in Figure 7.

Current from the positive side of the source of current is led via a fuse I40, a switch I41 and a wire I45a to a contact arm i49 carrying contact point I50. A contact arm I5I carries a contact point I52.

The contact arm I49 and the arm I5I are secured together with their respective contact points in cooperative relation by means of a block. of insulation I53, and a contact arm I54'carrying a contact point I55 is mounted in cooperative relation with a contact arm I56 carrying a contact point I51, by means of an insulating block A push rod I59 provided with a push button I60 is arranged in sear-saw relation with a push rod I6I having a push buttonl62 by means of an arm I63 pivoted at I64. The bar I63 is slidably connected to the 'push rods I59 and I6I at I65 and I66 respectively. The push rod I59 is provided with an insulating tip and is adapted when pushed causes the push rod I6I to move the contact arm I56. thereby opening the contacts I55,

I51 with the result that the device stops operating at the completion of a card cycle as will be presently described. This may be termed a stop button. Normally the contacts I50, I52 are open and the contacts I55, I51 are closed.

As stated above, the wire I 45a connects to the contact arm I49. This wire is also connected to the contact arm I 11 by means of a wire 229. The contact arm I5I is connected, by means of a 5 wire I68, to a contact arm I69 and to a magnet The contact arm I69 carries a contact point HI, and a stationary contact block I12 carries a contact point I13. Whenever the magnet I 10 is energized the contact arm I39 is attracted. and

the contact points I1I, I13 are closed. The stationary contact block I12 is connected by means of a Wire I14 to the wire I45 which is in turn connected to the motor I44. It is also connected 15 to the contact lever 200 by means of a wire 201.

The return wire of the magnet I10 is connected by means of a wire I15 to the wire I29 which is in turn connected to the negative fuse MI. The contact arm I54 is connected by means of a wire I16 to a contact block I80 carrying a contact point I19. A cooperative contact point I18 is carried by a movable contact arm I11. A magnet I8I controls the movement of the arm I11. The

contact points I18, I19 are normally closed and remain in this relation until the magnetI8I is energized. The return wire of the magnet I8I is connected to the Wire I15 and to the negative fuse MI. The other end of the winding of the magnet I8I is connected by means of a wire I82 to card lever contacts which will presently be described.

A contact arm 23I carries a contact point 232 and a contact point 234 is carried by a contact arm 233 in cooperative relation to the contact point 232. The contact arm 23I is provided with an insulating member 236 which is adapted to be engaged by the contact arm I11.

The contact arm 233 is connected to the wire I82 by means of awire 231 and the contact 4 arm 23I is connected to the wire I14 by means of a wire 238.

Whenever the magnet I BI is energized the contact arm I11 is attracted and the movement of the arm opens the contact points I18 and I19 and closes the contact points 232 and 234. The

' act of opening the contact points I18 and I19 interrupts the current flowing via the wire 239,

the contact points I 92 and I95 and the wire I22 to the contact shoe I 2I thereby de-energizing the sensing means.

A contact lever I83 is mounted on a pivot I84 and carries a roller I85 and a contact point I85. A stationary contact member I81 is provided with a contact point I88 which is positioned in operative relation with the contact point I85. A cam I89 may be mounted on and secured to the shaft 38. This cam is provided with a lobe IBM and is so timed that the contact points I 83, I88 are opened immediately after the last rows in the index positions in the control card and in the card to be punched leave the sensing means and the punches respectively, and until just before the first rows of index positions in the succeeding records reach the sensing means 65 and the punches respectively.

The contact member I81 is connected by means of a wire I90 to the wire I45 which is in turn connected to the motor I44.

A contact arm I9I is provided with a contact 70 point I92 and an insulating button I93. This contact arm is connected via a Wire 239 to the contact arms I54 and I80. A contact arm I94 carrying a contact point I95 is secured in operative relation with the contact arm I9I by 7 means of a block of insulation I96. A wire I22 connects the contact arm I94'to the contact shoe I 2I thereby supplying current to the contact roller I20 so that the brushes II1 may contact the roller through holes in a control record and thereby institute impulses which are delivered 5 by wires II8 to a series of jacks H9.

The contact lever I83 is provided with an extension I91 which is in operative relation to the insulating button I93. When the roller I85 is engaged by the lower portions of the surfaces 10 of the cam I89 there is a slight clearance between extension I91 and the button I93. When the lobe I89a of the cam I89 actuates the roller I85, the extension I91 bearing against the insulating button I 93 moves the contact arm I9I,to the 15.

right as shown in Figure '7, thereby separating the contacts I92, I95 and cutting off the currentfrom the contact roller I20. The cam I89 is so timed thatthe lobe 'I89a actuates the lever I83 via the roller I85 during the time when the last 20 row of index points in one record leaves the sensing means and the first row of index points in a succeeding record reaches the sensing means.

The shaft 30 may also carry a cam I98 which is provided with a lobe I 98a. A contact lever 25 200 is provided with a pivot I99 and a contact point 20L The contact arm 200 also carries a roller 284 which is engaged by the cam I98. A spring 205 bearing against a post 206 keeps the roller 204 into engagement with the surfaces of 30 the cam I 98. A stationary contact block 283 carries a contact point 202 with which the contact point 20I cooperates. The contact lever 200 is connected by means of a wire 201 to the stationary contact block I12 and to the motor I44 via 35 the wires I14 and I45. The stationary contact member 203 is connected by means of a wire 208 to card lever contact devices to be presently described.

The lobe I 98a of the cam I98 is so timed that the contact points 20I, 202 are closed from the time the leading edge of the records during each' cycle reaches the sensing means and the punches respectively preferably until the 9th row of index positions reaches the sensing means and punches respectively. The stationary contact block 283 is connected by means of the wire 208 to a contact arm 209 carrying a contact point 2I0. A contact arm 2II carries a contact point 2 I2 in cooperative relation with the contact point H0. An insulating block 2| 3 holds the contact arms 209 and 2H in proper relationship.

A contact arm 2M carries a contact point 2I5 in cooperative relation with a contact point 2I6 carried by a contact arm 2I1. The contact arms 5 2I4, 2I1 are held in cooperative relationship by means of a block of insulation 2I8.

A card lever 220 is provided with a suitable pivot 22I and has a push rod 2E9 pivoted thereto. The push rod 2 I9 is provided with a suitable insulating button 222 which is adapted to actuate the contact arm 2 whenever the card lever 220 is engaged by a record.

The card lever 220 is so positioned relative to the sensing means that it is engaged by a control record during each card cycle and while so engaged the contact points 2I0, 2I2 are open.

A card lever 223 is provided with a suitable pivot 224 and has a push rod 225 pivoted thereto. The push rod 225 is provided with a suitable insulating button 226 which is adapted to actuate the contact arm 2I1 and thereby open the contact points 2I5, 2I6. The card lever 223 is so positioned relative to the punches 81 that it is engaged by a record to be punched during each card cycle and while so engaged the contact points 255, 2E8 are open.

The contact arm 238 is connected to the stationary contact block 203 by means of a wire 208 as above stated. The contact arm 2I4 is connected in common with the contact arm 209 by means. of a wire- 221.

The contact arm ZII and the contact arm 2I1 are connected in common by a. wire 228 which is in turn connected to the wire I82 leading to the winding of the magnet I8! and via the wire, 231 to the contact arm 233.

By means of these connections the two pairs of contact arms associated with the card lever contacts are connected in parallel between the stationary contact block 283 and the winding of' the magnet I8I.

The cams I39 and I98 are so timed in the shaft 33 that the contact arm I83 is engaged by the lobe Item of the cam I89 and the contact points I85, I83. are opened and at the same time the contact arm 535 is actuated by the extension I91 and the contact points I92 and opened. The lobe I98a of the cam I98 is in engagement with the roller 234 causing contact to be established between the contact points 20I, 202. The machine always comes to rest with the cams in the relation just stated.

With the machine at rest, it may be started into operation by pressing the start button or key' E68 thereby closing the contact points I and I52 and allowing current to flow via the wire I38 to the magnet coil I10 and via the wire I15 and the wire I29 to the negative side of the line.

The magnet I13 upon becoming energized attracts the arms I59 andcloses the contacts HI and I13 thereby allowing current to flow via the wires i1 1 and it? to the driving motor I44.

When the starting button I 33 is pressed the contact points i153 and I 32 are closed and current flows via the wire MM and the wire I69 to the magnet and via the return wire I15 to the negative side of the line. This energizes the magnet E13 and the contact arm I69 is attracted causing the contact points HI and I13 to close. The magnet ltl is not energized because the contact points. 285 and 202 are always open when the machine is at rest or in its index position. As soon as the contacts I1I, I13 are closed current then flows Via the wire I14 and the wire I45 to the motor I44 and returns via the wire I29 to the negative side of the line. This starts the mechanism to operating and almost immediately the contact points i183 and 588 are closed, the contact points I32 and 35 are closed and-the contact.

points 20I and 262 are closed due to the movement of the cams I89 and I98 respectively, thereby allowing the brush roll I28 to become energized.

The records engage the card lever contacts 220 and 223 respectively thereby opening the contact points 2I8,2I2 and 2I5,2I8.

When the start button IE0 is released the mo tor i4 3 and the brush roll I20 continue to receive current from the positive side of the line through the following circuits:

Current flows from the wire I45a via the wire 229, the contact arm I11, the contact points I18,

I19 to the stationary arm I and thence via the wire I16 to the contact arm I54 from which it 7 passes via the contact points I55 and I51 to the arm I56 and via the wires I81 and I68 to the magnet I13 causing the contact arm I89 to stick. This keeps the contact points HI and I13en- I18, I19 and I55, I51.

I95 are wire I22 to the shoe I2I.

mam

gaged so that current continues to flow via the wire I14 and I45 to the motor I44.

When the cam I89 allows the contact points I85, I88 to close a path in parallel with the circuit above described is setup. This path may be traced as follows: 7 7

From the wire I450; via the wire 240 to the contact lever I83 and thence via the contact points I83, I88 and the wires I90 and I45 to the motor I44. A branch circuit may be traced via the wire I14, the contact points I13, I1I, the contact arm I69, to the magnet I19 and via the return wire I15 to the negative side of the line.

points I83, I83 and interrupting the parallel cir, cuit just described but the machine does not stop due to the circuit including the contact points will continue to run and feed cards until a control record or a blank record fails to engage a card lever 220 or 223 respectively.

Due to the absence of a record at either card lever contact, for example, the card lever contact 223, the contact points 2I0, 2I2 fail to open with the result that when the cam I98 closes the contact points- 20I, 202 current will flow via the wire 201, the contact points 20!, 2352, the wire 208,

- the contact points 2H3, -2I2 to the contact arm 2H and thence via the wires228, I82 to the 5 magnet l8I.

The magnet ItI attracts the contact arm I11 and opens the contact points I18, I19 thereby interrupting thecurrent flowing to the brush H 7 lows the contacts ill, I13 to open thereby inter-- rupting current flowing to the motor via, the wires I14 and I45.

In case the stop button I52 is pressed during a card cycle current flowing via the wires I61, I88 to the holding magnet I13 and via the contacts I1I, I13 is interrupted but current continues to flow to the brush roll I20 via the wire 229, the contact arm I11, the contact points I18, I19 and via the wire 239, the contact arm IBI, the contact points I92, I95, the contact arm I94 and via the Therefore the brush roll I20 will continue to receive current. The

,motor will continue to run receiving its current At the end of this card cycle the lobe I89a of I the cam I89 cause the contact points I80, I88 to open thereby interrupting current flowing to the motor I44 causing the machine to stop.

Upon the appearance of perforations on-the control records one or more of the brushes II1 will become energized and impulses will flow via the wire II8 to the jacks H9. may be connected to jacks I I4 by any suitable means, for example, by means of plug wires I21.

As previously described the jacks I I4 form the terminals of the interposer control magnets H3 and impulses delivered to the jacks II4 flow through the magnet or magnets H3 and via a resistor I36 to the contact arm I33. A cam I35 has lobes which engage the bumper I34 to close contact points I3I, I32 in time with the positioning of the successive index point positions at the sensing means and/or the punches.

7 Current flows from the arm I33 via the contacts I32, I3I to the stationary member I30 and thence to the return wire I29.

Therefore the machine The jacks H9 The contact points Isl, I32 are bridged with a suitable resistor 38 in series with a suitable capacitor I31.

Due to the fact that the punch in any column of the record to be produced may be connected to any brushes engaged by the control record, it is not necessary to provide the new and improved punch with the more or less complicated column cut-out contacts or skip bars of the prior art, and due to the fact that the cards are fed through the machine in steps corresponding to the horizontal rows of index positions, the punching of a record is affected in twelve successive steps, whereas in the punches of the prior art the vertical columns in the record are successively presented to the punches, making it necessary, where an entire record is to be reproduced, to feed the card through in eighty steps. From this it would appear that with the new and improved device, work of this character can be done seven times as fast.

Due to the fact that the control magnets H3 operate on very low values of current, suitable bus jacks, jacks connected together in common, may be provided in the plug board so that a plurality of control magnets may be connected to a single brush and these magnets could control punches in various portions of the card, thereby reproducing a single column of the control record in a plurality of columns in the record to be produced, and it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many other arrangements and combinations may be punched into a blank record from a control record.

While a simple embodiment of the invention is shown and described herein, many changes in the arrangement of the parts and structure may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine for perforating records having a plurality of rows of index values'disposed along one dimension thereof and grouped in vertical columns along another dimension thereof, a plurality of dies, a punch for each of said dies, a single mechanical member for driving said punches, an electrically controlled interposer for each punch adapted to associate its punch in driving relation to said member only While energized, record feeding mechanism including a series of feed rolls operating in steps to successively position said record with the index values along said first dimension beneath the punches, each succeeding step presenting index values differing by one, whereby each stroke of the mechanical member causes the punches Whose interposers have been actuated to perforate index positions in the record along said first dimension, and means for driving said member and said feeding mechanism in definite timed relation to each other.

2. In a machine for perforating records having a plurality of rows of index values disposed along one dimension thereof and grouped in vertical columns along another dimension thereof, a plurality of dies and punches therefor, a single mechanical member for driving said punches, an interposer for each of said punches, each adapted to be positioned between its punch and said member, electrical means for moving said interposers into and out of engagement with said member and said punches, means for actuating said member, and a series of feed rollers and means for moving the same in steps to control the motion of said record after each actuation of said member.

3. A machine as claimed in claim 2 inwhich an associated device, having a sensing means operating in time relation to said machine, institutes impulses under control of a record passing through said sensing means for controlling said electrical means.

i. In a record controlled machine, a stack of control records, a stack of record media, a set of pickers for feeding said records, a set of pickers for feeding said media, feed rollers adapted to feed a record and a record media through said machine synchronously in steps, the movement of at least one of the steps being greater than the others, and a single shaft supporting and adapted to move all said "pickers at the same time thereby advancing both a record and a record media to said feed rollers.

5. In a record controlled machine, a sensing means, punching means including a plurality of punches, a single mechanically driven member for driving all said punches, an interposer for each punch adapted to be positioned between the same and said member whereby the latter may drive the punches through the medium of said interposers, a control magnet for each interposer adapted to position its interposer between its punch and said member only during the time said magnet is energized, means to deliver a control record to said sensing means and a blankrecord to said punches simultaneously, said last means including a step by step feeding device comprised of a series of feed rolls maintaining positive control over the records adapted to advance them in steps corresponding to successive index position values, and interconnections between said sensing means and said control magnets.

6. In a record controlled machine in combination, control records having index points arranged thereon, blank records to be punched, a sensing device including a plurality of brushes, a plurality of punches and dies therefor, a single mechanical driving member adapted to drive all said punches, a plurality of interposers associated with said member in reciprocative relation, an electro-magnet for and mechanically linked to each of said interposers and adapted, when energized, to position and retain the latter between the punches and said member whereby the member may drive one or more punches through a blank record, means including a series of feed rollers for feeding a control record and a blank record through the machine in steps of index point intervals, and connections between said brushes and said magnets whereby said magnets are energized in accordance with data recorded in said control records.

7. A record controlled machine according to claim 4 in which both sets of said pickers are secured to and actuated by a single oscillatable shaft, and in which said feed rollers feed the record and the record media through the machine simultaneously in steps, and come to a definite stop between each successive step.

8. In a punching machine for perforating records having a plurality of rows of index points disposed along one dimension thereof, the points in each row being of like value, a plurality of dies disposed parallel to said rows, a plurality of punches for said dies, each of said punches being provided. with a T shaped head, a mechanical member having a channeled slot formed therein engaging said punch heads and adapted to retract the punchesfrom said dies, a plurality of interposers associated with said member in reciprocative relation, an electromagnet for and mechanically linked to each of said interposers and adapted only when energized to position and hold the latter between said heads and said memtion significance, a camfor actuating said feed rollers, a mechanical member common to all said punches, and electrically controlled means adapted to determine which of said punches shall be actuated by said member.

10. A machine as claimed in claim 6 in which machine control circuits are provided to cause the machine to continue to run and feed records as long as there are records of both kinds in the machine, said circuits including contacts to be actuated by a starting button and contacts to be actuated by astop button, the latter, when actuated by an operator, being adapted to stop the machine only after the card cycle then in progress is completed.

11. A machine as claimed in claim 6 in which machine control circuits are provided to cause the machine to continue to run and feed records as long as there are both kinds of records in the machine, said circuits including instrumentalities adapted to de-energize the sensing means when the picker knives fail to advance a record card.

12. A device according to claim 2 in which the punches are provided with T shaped heads, and in which the mechanical member is provided with a T slot engaging said heads, whereby said member may positively Withdraw all actuated punches from said dies. 1

13. A device according to claim 2 in which th mechanical member for driving the punches is provided at. each end with a roller, and in which cams, mounted on a suitable power driven shaft, actuate said rollers.

14. A device according to claim 2 in which the mechanical member for driving the punches is provided at each end with a roller mounted on a ball bearing, and in which cams, mounted on a suitable power driven shaft, actuate said rollers.

15. In perforating apparatus including a plurality of punches and dies therefor, means for causing the actuation of one or more punches, said means including an interposer for each punch, and an electro-magnet for each interposer for moving and holding the latter into operative relation to its punch only during the time said magnet is energized.

16. A device according to claim 15 in whicha sensing means including brushes is provided through which control records may be fed synchronously with the feeding of records to the punches and connections between said brushes and said electro-magnets whereby an impulse instituted by a control record willcause said electro-magnet to hold an interposer in operative relation to its punch only during the life of the impulse instituted by said control record.

17 In record controlled reproducing apparatus,

a sensing means,a recording means including punches, a single mechanically driven member for driving said punches, aninterposer for each punch adapted to be positioned between its punch and said member whereby the latter may drive the punches, a control magnet for each interposer, means to deliver a control record to said sensing means and a record medium to said punches simultaneously, said'last means including a step by step feeding device adapted to ad- Vance said records in steps, a cam member to actuate said feeding device in steps, and a sec- 0nd cam member to actuate said single mechanically driven member between the steps of said feeding device, and interconnections between said sensing means and said control magnets whereby the latter will receive impulses isochronous with the sensing of data in said control record and causes its associated interposer to be positioned between a punch and the mechanically least one of the lobes on said cam is substantially larger than the others and adapted to feed the record a distance greater than one index value.

20. In a record controlled machine, astack of control records, a stack ofrecord media, a set of pickers for feeding said records, a set of pickers for feeding said media, a shaft common to and rigidly supporting both said sets of pickers,

said shaft being spaced apart from the feeding edges of said stacks a distance less than that of the radii of said pickers, and means'for oscillating said shaft to feed and advance both a record. and a record media at the same time, said pickers being of such radius that while oscillating in unison with said shaft their outer ends describe arcs which are approximatelytangent to the record and the record media respectively abutting the ones being fed, a

LINCOLN MATHEW KEEFE; 

